Manufacture of tennis and other rackets



Oct. 21, 1930.

A. PRITCHARD ET AL MANUFACTURE OF TENNIS AND OTHER RACKETS Filed Nov. 7, 1929 I Z 19 2 v F1 2.

' etrial: nwam/ 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Oct. 21, 1930. A. PR ITCHARD ET AL "1,779,289

MANUFACTURE OF TENNIS AND OTHER RACKETS Filed Nov. '7, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 l6 m if. f f? f. .4 /f /w ven/bra,

rtarney c Patented Oct. 21, 1930 UNITED STATES,

PATENT OFFICE a ARTHUR IPRITCHARD ANDCHARLES MONKS, or. ennon, ENGLAND MANUFACTURE F TENNIS-AND OTHER RACKETS Application filed November 7, 1929, Serial No. 4o s',44a,fa a in Great Britain September a, 1929.

' This invention relates .particularly tothe drilling of the string holes in the frames-of tennis and other racketsl;

According. to common practice 'the positions of these holes are marked off 'on' the frames of the rackets by hand the drilling of the holes thus marked ofi' being similarly effected. These operations, therefore, call ing a drill of fixed location, means for supporting each framerelativeto the drill to ensure predetermined lateral; spacing of the drilled holes from the sides of the frame and means for controlling the movement of v as the frame from one drilling position to another drilling position to ensure'predetermined longitudinal spacing of the holes from I each other around'the frame.

In order that the invention may be clearly understood and carried into effect two embodiments of the same will now be described by aid of the accompanying drawings in I Fig. lis a side elevation of a machine constitutingpart of the apparatus according to one embodiment of the invention; I r

Fig. 2 is a" plan View of the same'machin'e. Fig. 3 isaplan view of the frame constituting the other part of theapparatus according to the same embodiment of the invention.

Fig. '4 is a section through the same onv theline 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is'a plan view of revoluble head constitutingan alternative meansfor controlling the movement of the frame from one drilling position to anothendrilling'positionto ensure predetermined longitudinal the frame. I

head

Fig. 6 is a vertical section throughsuch position on its supings a horizontal spindle 3. on the outer end of which is mounted a suitable drill chuck 4 for the reception of the required drill which is denoted in'Fig. 1 by the referencenumeral 5. The outer end of this drillis supported 7 isaside elevation viewshowing the .7

by a guide formed in an adjustably mounted bracket 6. The spindle 3, which in the example illustrated is driven by an electric motor 7 through the medium of a belt Sandgfast and loosepulleys 9, is free to move axially, this movement in a forward direction being imparted by a foot pedal 10 through the medium of a flexible connection 11 and against a spring 12 and the return movement being imparted bysuch spring. This spring therefore'maintains the spindle and the drill" position. I

.An inclined table 13 is provided for sup-v porting the Work to be drilled. This table in turn supported by the frameof the ma chi'ne-insuch a manner that it may. be angucarried, thereby in the normal or retracted angleof the holestobe drilled. This is. effected in the example illustrated by means larly adjusted according to the required of the independently adjustable front and -rear supports 14 and 15 respect'iyelyhThis table in conjunction with the ig 16 illustrated in F ig, ]3 constitute one suitable means for supporting each frame to be drilled relative. to the drill to effect lateral spacing of the drilled holestfrom the sides; of the frame. I

, The jigfillustr'ated is composed of metal, is

To permitofthe insertion of a frame one half of the jig is composed of two sections .18each '1 of which is hinged to the adjoining part of the jig as at 19. I hen the twosections are of skeleton formation and is of such a de .th and shape as to becapable of receiving e- I tween its fiat sides 17, the frameto be drilled.

closed about a positioned frame they are held together by means of suitable catches 20. The frame is centered in the jig by means of screw clamps the jaws 21 of which are opened and closed about the positioned frame by means of set screws 22. The inside edge of each flat surface of the jig is formed with notches 23 corresponding to the positions of the holes to be drilled in the frame. To facilitate the drilling of each hole at the required angle the flat surfaces of the jig may, as illustrated, be marked off with lines 23* opposite each notch and in operation these lines are intended to be brought successively into aligned registration with a further line of marking, 6 on a finger 24.

The means illustrated in Fig. l for controlling the movement of the jig and its contained frame from one drilling position to another drilling position comprises a spring pressed finger 24, see Fig. 1, mounted upon the braclo et 6 and above the drill beyond which it eX tends forwardly for a predetermined distance. This linger is adapted to be engaged in each of the notches in turn.

In operation the with a positioned frame is placed upon the upper surface of the inclined table 13 so as to encircle the drill. The jig is then moved to cause the spring pressed finger 24 to engage in one of the aforesaid notches 23 when the is forced towards the drill, against the action of the spring pressed finger, which moves with it, until the inside face of the racket frame comes against a fixed stop 25 in which position it is held until the required hole has been drilled. The markings on the and the drill head finger 24 are then brought into alignment after which the drill is fed forward by the operation of the foot pedal 10, to effect the drilling of the hole. The pedal is then released and the drill is automatically withdrawn to its normal position again by the action of the spring 12. The operation is then repeated until one series of holes has been drilled. The jig is then turned completely over onto its opposite face and the second series of holes is similarly drilled.

Another suitable means for controlling the movement of the frame from one drilling position to another drilling position to effect predetermined longitudinal spacing of the holes from each other around the frame is illustrated in Figs. 5 to 8 and comprises a circular member or head 26 which is mounted to be freely rotatable about a pivot 27 which pivot is carried by a supporting platform 28 upon which the base of the circular member or head rests. This supporting platform'is arranged at an angle to the axis of the drill and above the same so as to support the aforesaid head at a similar angle. Projecting at intervals from and around the periphery of this head are a plurality of pins 29 the outer extremities of which are pointed or otherwise sharpened. These pins are spaced at varydistances from each other for a purpose hereafter to be described and are so mounted n bearings in the head as to be capable of ongitudinal movement. The outward movement of the pins is resisted by coil springs 30 encircling the inner end of each pin and such outward movei'nent is imparted to all of the pins simultaneously as and when required by a conical'member 31 which is mounted upon a threaded stem projecting vertically and centrally from the upper surface of the aforesaid hcad. By rotating this conical member in either ,direction'the same is caused. to move up and down the threaded stem and to thus vary the distance the pins project outwards from the periphery of the head. A loch-nut 32 is provided for locking this member in the adjusted positions.

In operation the jig with a positioned frame is placed upon the upper surface of the inclined table 1.3 so as to encircle the drill. A centre marl: previously placed on the interior surface of the f ame at the narrow or handle end thereof is then brought into registration with a corresponding mark on the head. The frame is then pushed towards the drill point into engagement with a stop against which it is held during each drilling operation. This movement of the frame causes the middle or neares' pin on the head to engage the wood of the f ame at a point just above the dill. The drill is then fed forward until the hole is dialed through the frame. The peda or other device is then released and the drill is automatically with drawn to its normal position again by the action of the spring 12. The frame is then turned whilst still held against the aforesaid stop 33 until the next pin on the head is brought into alignment with the point of the drill. This movement of the head is effected by the continued engagement of the first pin with the racket frame and such engagement continues until the next following pin has engaged the frame and is in alignment with the drill. The drilling operation is then repeated and is continued until one series of holes has been drilled around the frame. The

next series of holes, which alternate with holes of the first series but which are in a different plane from the first series, are drilled as described in connection with the first embodiment by turning the nd its contained frame completely over on the inclined table so that the opposite side of the rests upon such table.

As the spacing of the holes around the frame varies from a minimum at the lower or handle end of the frame to a maziimum at the opposite end of the frame the pins on the revolvable head are correspondingly spaced. A different head may be provided for each different spacing of the holes.

By varying the distance the pinsproject from the head by the means aforementioned the effective diameter of the head is correspondingly varied thus permitting the one head to be used for rackets having different internal measurements.

It will, of course, be understood that the invention contemplates the use of any suitable means for supportingthe frame relative to the drill for the purpose of ensuring predetermined lateral spacing of the drilled holes from the sides of the frame and any suitable means for controlling the-movement of the frame from one drilling position to another drilling position. The movement of the frame from one drilling position to another drilling position may also be effected mechanically instead of by hand as just described. i

Further, the aforesaid revolvable head may be used for marking-off purposes inde-' pendentlyof the other devices, theholes be ing then drilled in any known manner.

What we claim is 2- 1. Apparatus for drilling the string holes in the frame of tennis rackets and the like comprising, in combination, an adjustable supporting table adapted to be tilted to any desired angle, a horizontally. disposed longitudinally movable drill spindle extending thru said table when inclined, av jig frame adapted to support a racket frame about the drill head whereby the holes. may be drilled at an angle, and means on saidtable and cooperating with said frame adapted to facilitate predetermined longitudinal spacing of the drilled holes thru the sides of the frame. I

'2. Apparatus for drillin in the frame of tennis rac ets and the like comprising, in combination, an adjustable supporting table adapted to be tilted to any desired angle, a horizontally disposed longitudinally movable drill spindle extending thru said table wheninclined, a jig frame adapted to support aracket frame about the drill head whereby the holes may be. i

. drilled at an angle, and means on said table and cooperating with said frame adapted to facilitate predetermined longitudinal spacing of the drilled holes thru the sides of the 7 frame, said means including a resilient member adapted to coactwith said jig frame. 3. Apparatus for drilling. the string holes in the frame of tennis rackets'and' the like comprising, in combination, an adjustable supporting table adapted to be tilted to any desired angle, a horizontally disposed longitudi'nally movable drill spindle extending thru said table when inclined, a jig frame adapted to support a racket frame'about the drill head whereby the holes may 'be' frame, said jig frame having notches and a I spring pressed finger adjacent the drill adapted'to coact with said notches in the jig frame thereby positively to determine the drilling'of the holes in predetermined spaced relation.

"4. Apparatus in the frame of tennis rackets and the like comprising in combination a supporting table, a longitudinally moving drill spindle, means for supporting the racket frame about the drill head and on the supporting table so. as to facilitate predetermined lateral spacing of the holes to be drilled from the racket sides, and means cooperating for drilling the string holes. I

with said'racke-t supporting means adapted to facilitate predetermined longitudinal spacing of the holes to be drilled through the sides of the frame. H

5. Apparatus for drilling the string holes in the frame. of tennis rackets and the like tures.

ARTHUR'PRITCHARD. CHARLES MONKS.

the string holes drilled at an angle, and means on said table I and cooperating with said frame adapted tofacilitate predetermined longitudinal spacing of the drilled holes thru the sides of the 

